Am I nuts? (rhetorical question, don't answer)
DCW
Posts: 7,328 ✭✭✭✭✭
May I present my latest purchase, a seven hundred and fifty dollar nut.
This is a unique piece of artwork from renowned die sinker, John Adams Bolen, carved in 1903 on a nearly 3 inch Tagua Nut. It's known as "vegetable ivory" because of its resemblance to animal tusks.
Bolen struck many medals in the 1860s through 1880s. He is probably most fondly remembered for the Pioneer Base Ball Club medal, which is said to be the first depiction of our national pastime in medallic form:
He was a true artist, and when he retired, he began to carve figurines out of hard Tagua Nuts to keep himself busy. Where in the world he got tagua nuts is anyone's guess. They only grow on palm trees in South American tropical rain forests, quite a ways from Massachusetts! This one is beautifully fashioned into a gargoyle and is signed "JA Bolen, 1903" on the base, two years before his death. 
I have seen others dated 1905, but none this early. These never come up for sale, so I had to go for it! I'd love to hear your comments.
Thanks for looking!
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Comments
Dey as big as deze nutz?
Thanks for showing us these.
That’s awesome! Another great piece for your Bolen collection.
Artists never really retire, they just change mediums. Even Bill Watterson is still doing paintings.
@DCW You are nuts!! But having you share things here is wonderful! Don't ever change my friend!!
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
I believe you are nuts for nut carving done by Bolen or whomever. However I love your Bolen copper Baseball token., but you already know how magnificent it is
At minimum we know no where the idea & image of the Hulk originated from
@RobertScotLover
It's funny you say that, because the Hulk immediately came to my mind when I saw this, too. Stan Lee must have used this as inspiration! 😆 Boy, the value just increased, didn't it?
There were two other Bolen carvings in this Stacks auction, but this one spoke to me. I tried for them all, actually. That's how nuts I am. I mean why buy one when you can have three at triple the price, right? 😆
Alas, someone wanted them more. The other two went to a hardcore Bolen collector for a little less than this one. The Stacks app froze and wouldn't let me keep bidding, essentially saving me from myself. 😆
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
I understand, I have a few Bolen pieces too
That’s actually awesome, and no worse than the stuff I end up purchasing. I too thought of the Hulk as my first impression, until I looked closer at the hair and not it looks like the Jolly Green Giant 🤔
Mr_Spud
is the nut shellacked or something to keep it from rotting? or would that decrease value as altered surface?
It doesn't rot like a traditional nut. They call this "vegetable ivory" because people have been making buttons and such from them for centuries. It's a very hard substance.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Bought a nice stand to display this little guy:
Just love looking at this work of art by J.A. Bolen. So much easier to enjoy than his medals, ironically.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
I'd call it an ogre rather than a gargoyle but who knows...
In any case, I don't think he was nuts for carving it or you are for collecting it. What is totally nuts to me is that this was preserved, and attributed, no less, for 120 years. 😳
Very interesting nut carving!!! As to what he resembles most, I'd agree with the Hulk. There were lot's of great suggestions...
Seriously?
I had to slip one Red Herring in!!
I was sent to inspect your item
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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I think it's fantastic!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I think that cat is evil!
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Old post, but as I was re-reading I thought I'd add to it. The reason these are still intact and attributed are two fold:
The nuts do not "rot." They are just as hard as ivory, and haven't changed (except for developing a golden patina" since they were carved
They were in the family estate for decades. I believe most were sold to Boston dealer Maurice Gould by Bolen's granddaughter in the 1940s or so. Bolen also signed the base, so attribution is rock or "nut" solid 😆 whenever one is discovered in the wild.
Anyone ever seen one of these?
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
That’s pretty cool, glad you bumped it as I missed it. I would say the comparison or friend of yours would be this one.
I always thought a properly graded one was clean teeth and clean defined, uninterrupted high cheeks. Yours meets it!
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
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Quite amazing that J. A. Bolen was able to foresee and depict, so many decades before, the expression of a TPG submitter when they are tired of waiting for their coins or first see the TPG photos or aren't happy with their grades.
Might also apply to some participants in discussions regarding any aspect of grading at anytime in the past or present.
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This art needs a title. One suggestion: "My Feelings On The Matter"
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin